Swathes of Australia’s east coast continue to be lashed by south-moving wild weather.
Already dealing with the aftermath of a week-long battering of severe storms, Queensland’s south-east faces the prospect of more rain on Jan. 3.
Australian Defence Force troops have been deployed across the state to help with recovery efforts while authorities continue to work to restore power to about 11,000 homes.
Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said compounding weather events meant the state needed more resources.
“But when we had that heavy rainfall hit as well, to compound the situation, that’s when the Defence Force was really needed.”
Hundreds of flood-damaged Queensland roads also remain closed, and continuing rain means an increased potential for landslides and fallen debris.
Dozens of people have been rescued from flood waters since the big wet began over Christmas.
Although the Bureau of Meteorology says the worst of the wild weather has moved on, isolated showers and thunderstorms are likely across most of Queensland on Jan. 3, while conditions will remain hazardous long after conditions ease.
Storms and flooding in northern NSW have also kept emergency services working overtime.
A cluster of localities received more than a month’s worth of rain in the 48 hours to Jan. 2 evening, with some centres in the Northern Rivers region copping falls of more than 500 mm.
The SES said local crews had completed 28 rescues during the period.
However, more falls are on the way.
“Moisture is moving south, with the risk of severe storms increasing through parts of NSW and much of Victoria,” Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Miriam Bradbury said.
Thunderstorms are headed for central Victoria on Jan. 3 before becoming widespread over the eastern half of the state.
The bureau says there’s the potential for heavy falls, large hail, and damaging winds. Melbourne can expect showers and likely a thunderstorm, possibly a severe one.
Lightning stopped flights at the city’s airport on Jan. 2 evening, and almost 50,000 homes and businesses across the state were left without power.
In response to criticism of the bureau for its forecasts during Cyclone Jasper last month, Senator Watt said on Jan. 3 updates and warnings were provided in the lead up to flooding and storms, but it was hoped to improve emergency text alerts more generally sent out by councils.
“There was a bit of a gap between some of the information the bureau was providing and that information getting out,” he said.
